Sassano reflects on EDC, sets goals for Florida’s Great Northwest

Larry Sassano is gearing up for one of the biggest transitions in his career.

DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News

FORT WALTON BEACH — Larry Sassano is gearing up for one of the biggest transitions in his career.

It was announced last week that Sassano had submitted his resignation to the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council to become Florida’s Great Northwest’s new interim president. His last day with the EDC will be Nov. 30, and he will join Florida’s Great Northwest on Dec. 1.

Sassano stopped by the Northwest Florida Daily News on Tuesday morning and discussed his nearly 16 years with the EDC and his goals for Florida’s Great Northwest.

He said it was a tough decision to leave the EDC.

“The opportunity to run the EDC to me was a privilege,” Sassano said. “We had a great group of members, a great board (that was) very supportive and understanding of the (economic development) process. I think we were blessed to have the ability to carry out our mission.”

Sassano joined the EDC in February 1997 after briefly serving as Escambia County’s EDC director and for about 17 years with Florida’s Department of Commerce.

Sassano said the EDC is positioned well for the future, but added that there could be challenges ahead.

“In terms of the future of the EDC, I guess it’s up to the board and staff to determine how they’re going to continue with the way the economy is today,” Sassano said. “I think we’ve done all right.

“Now that we’ve got sequestration kicking in and you’re going to see the military and contractors impacted, how are we going to address that, because we’ve never had that problem.” he added. “We’ve always had strong military.”

Okaloosa County’s tourism is very strong right now, and Sassano thinks it’s going to get stronger. He said the EDC was asked to take the lead on two unannounced tourism projects that would generate 400 to 500 new jobs and $50 million combined investment between them.

“What that does is create some diversification in the tourism market,” Sassano said.

Sassano has been a big supporter of diversifying Okaloosa County’s economy beyond military and tourism.

A big focus of his attention in recent years has been to establish Northwest Florida as a center for unmanned vehicle development and testing. The EDC has partnered with the University of Florida to develop a 45,000-square-foot unmanned vehicle test center that is planned to be built on UF’s Research and Engineering Education Facility property off Lewis Turner Boulevard.

The EDC provided the university with a state grant to design the facility, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. UF then will seek a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to build the estimated $4.5 million center. Space Florida has agreed to provide a match to the grant, Sassano said. He hopes the project will continue to be developed.

Florida’s Great Northwest was founded in 2000 to market and brand the 16-county region as a competitive location for business. The organization is transitioning into more of a marketing organization that will bring business prospects to the individual counties’ economic development organizations.

Sassano said his first duties with Florida’s Great Northwest will be to meet with representatives from the 16 counties and their economic development groups to determine the best way for them to work together.

“The important thing is to determine how Florida’s Great Northwest will work more cooperatively with Enterprise Florida and each of the 16 counties so that we provide them with a true benefit,” Sassano said. “This is such a diverse region. You can’t cookie-cut what you do for all 16 counties.”

Although Sassano’s title with Florida’s Great Northwest will be interim president, he said it was definitely possible he could remain with the organization after his one-year contract expires.

“I think that’s up to the board and up to me, because if I feel I need another year and the board feels I’m doing a good job, then maybe we’ll give it a second year,” Sassano said. “But I think I’ve got to prove myself first and I don’t mind doing that. I feel that I have to prove this to myself that I can do it.

“I’m excited about this opportunity and will try to bring everybody on the same page,” he added. “That’s my goal.”

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.